Bridge



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` G. N.GLYMBR.

BRIDGE.'

No. 534,032... Patented Peb. 12, 1895.

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` (No Model.) Y I' 2SheetS-Sheet-2. G. N. CLYMBR. BRIDGE.

Ylientented Feb. 1 2,- v1895.

INC

UNITED STATES PATENT QFEECEe GEORGE N. CLYMER, on ELooMINGsBURG,INDIANA.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,032, dated February12., 1895.

Application filed February 13, 1894. Serial No. 500,003. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. CLYMEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomingsburgyin the county of Fulton and State of Indiana,have invented a new and useful Fridge, of which the following is aspecificaion.

This invention relates to bridges; and it has for its object to effectcertain improvements in that class of bridges which are made 1n shortspans adapted for spanning small creeks, ditches, gorges, streams, &c.,ranging from about ten to `forty feet in'width', and to this end theinvention contemplates a shortspan bridge which shall possessexceptional merit for its durability and strength.

With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination land arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawingsz--Figure l is a perspective view of abridge constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical longitudinal sectional -view thereof. Fig. 3 is an endview with one of the abutment platesremoved and also one of the endtruss saddles removed. Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the angledor L- shaped connecting beam for the pillars. Fig. 5 is a similar viewof one of the endless truss rod saddles.r Fig. 6 is a detail elevationof the central needle-beam with the depending truss brackets attachedthereto.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A A represent the opposite mudsills which are adapted to be placed in front of the usual bridgeabutments at the opposite sides or banks lof the ystream or depressionto be spanned by the bridge, and arising from the mud-sills are atransverse series `of tubular supporting pillars B.

The supporting pillars B, are secured at their lower ends to themud-sills in any suitable manner, and are connected at their upper innerends by the transverse angled or L- shaped connecting beams C. The uppertransverse connecting beams C, are arranged with their vertical flangesdisposed at the upper inner ends of the supporting pillars, and aresecurely clamped or bound thereto by means vof the Ushaped clampingbolts or stirrups D, theY threaded extremities of which extend throughthe vertical lianges of said connecting beams and receive the securingnuts d. This connection/firmly braces and connects the severaltransverse supporting pillars together, and the beams securing thisconnection are additionally strengthened and braced in position by meansof the diagonal bracing rods E, bolted at their upper ends tothevcrtical flanges of the connecting beams near the opposite ends thereof,and at their lower ends suitably secured to the mud sills atcorrespondingly opposite points.

The supporting pillars B, and the horizontal anges of the connectingbeams C, form a support or rest for the opposite ends of thelongitudinal I -beams F. The longitudinal I-beams have their oppositeends rest directly on top of the upper ends of the supporting pillars,and their lower flanges are securely bolted to the horizontal flanges ofthe transverse connecting beams on the lower clamping bolts G, whichserve to securely position the said I-beams.

The longitudinal I-beams F, are arranged parallel with each other in anydesired number and span the run or depression over which the bridge isto be placed, and the side ones of such beams have bolted to the innersides thereof onthe bolts H, the wooden iioor beams I, which projectsufficiently inward from the said side beams to receive the nails orbolts' of the planking formingy the floor J, of the bridge. Thisconstruction substantially completes the main structure of the bridge,which is strengthened ,and braced by two or more pairs vof endless truss'rods K. The endless truss rods K, are provided at opposite ends of thebridge with the looped or stirrup ends L, which rest in the stirrupgrooves M, formed in the outer upper end of the end truss saddles N.These end truss saddles N, are formed of suitable iron or steel castingsand are provided in their inner faces with the I-grooves O, whichregister with the ends of the longitudinal I-beams over which they arefitted, and by reason of this construction the said saddles are firmlyheld in position at the ends of the I-beams where they are placed.

The endless truss rods K, are preferably arranged at opposite sides ofthe bridge span ICO and are looped over and around the extreme sidebeams, while the central portion of said rods are passed under thedependingnotched truss brackets T, bolted to the lower flanges of theneedle I-beam Q, the upper flanges of which are bolted on the bolts q,to the lower llanges of the longitudinal I-beams F. The said needle beamis arranged transversely under the center of the several longitudinalI-beams, and not only serves to connect and brace these beams together,but forms a ccntral truss support therefor by reason of the dispositionofthe truss rods under such beam, and said truss rods are provided atpoints connecting theirstirrup ends and central portions with theturn-buckles R, to provide means for maintaining the same at the propertension. The opposite extremities of the side I-beams are furtheradapted to receive the bracket bolts S, which securely fasten inposition the lower ends of the vertical rail brackets T', extendingabove the floor of the bridge and consisting of the parallel arms s,between which are secured the opposite ends of the longitudinal railpanels T2, which are disposed over the opposite side edges of the'bridge door to inclose the sides of the same and protect passengers orvehicles from falling ott, and these rail panels may be open Work panelsor of any desired shape and ooniiguration. The same bolts that securethe arms, s, together clamp the panels therebetween.

The bridge improvements herein-described are completed by the employmentof the corrugated abutment plates U, which are arranged against theouter sides of the oppo site rows of supporting pillars, and aresecurely fastened thereto on the looped or U- shaped clamp bolts V,embracing such pillars and bolted to the said plates. The corrugatedabutment plates are made of galvanized iron or similar non-rusting andnon-corroding metal material to be rendered sufiiciently durable for thepurpose, and designed to Areceive the iill which is located at each endot` the bridge to form the abutments therefor, the corrugations of saidplates assisting to prevent the settling down of the earth lill.7

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacrificingany ot' the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bridge, the combination with the opposite mud-sills; of a seriesof supportingpillars arising from said sills, angle connecting platesbolted to the upper inner ends of each series of pillars, thelongitudinal I-beains bolted to the horizontal flanges of said angleconnecting beams and having their opposite extremities rest on the upperends of said supporting pillars, and the bridge fiooring laid on saidI-beams, substantially as set forth.

2. In abridge, the combination with the opposite mud-sills; of a seriesof vertical tubular supporting pillars arising from said mud sills,angle or L-shaped connecting beams arranged at the upper inner ends ofsaid pillars, U-shaped clamping bolts or sti'rrups embracing saidpillars and secured to the vertical lianges of said connecting beams, aseries of longitudinal I-beams having their extremities resting on theupper ends ot' said pillars and their lower fianges bolted to thehorizontal flanges of said connecting beams, diagonal bracing rodsconnected to said connecting beams and to the mud sills, and the bridgeflooring on said I-beams, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bridge, the combination ofthe opposite transverse series ofsupporting pillars suitably con ueeted at their upper ends, a series oflongitudinal door beams having their opposite ends secured on the upperends of said supporting pillars, a needle beam centrally arranged underthe longitudinal beams and secured thereto, depending notched trussbrackets bolted to said needle beam, opposite truss saddles havinginnergrooved faces registering With the ends ot' the floor beams, andthe endless adjustable truss rods having their central portions passedunder said truss brackets and their opposite looped stirrup ends passedaround the opposite truss saddles and holding the latter in position onthe ends of the floor beams, substantially as set forth.

4. In a bridge, the combination with the opposite supports and alongitudinal series of I-beams having their ends placed on suchsupports, of the central needle beam secured under said longitudinalbeams, the truss saddles provided at their upper outer ends with thestirrup grooves and in their inner faces With Igrooves registering withthe ends of the longitudinal I-beams, and the endless adjustable trussrods passed centrally under the needle beam and having stirrup endsseated in the stirrup grooves of said saddles, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

` GEORGE N. CLYMER. Witnesses:

IsArAH CONNER, Rosa E. WILE.

